Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER. WAY SIGNAL TORPEDO. n10 FILED ABBA, 1912.

BAIL

APPLIO Patented July 7, 1914.

' O-LITHO WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF N EW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914.

Application filed April 4, 1912. Serial No. 688,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and pertains to a torpedo composed of a paper case.

The object of my invention is to place a plate between the strap and the yielding paper case to prevent the releasing of the strap by the yielding of the paper case.

In the accompanylng drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo which embodies my present improvement, the same being shown in position on the railway rail. Fig. 2 is a central cross sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts embodying my invention, the same being shown in separated relation. Fig. 5 is a modified form of my improvement, the parts being shown in separated relation.

This improvement is particularly intended for use in connection with that type of torpedo in which the explosive containing case is made up of a tubular portion 1, which is flattened at its center and tapered at its ends outwardly as at 2, and has its ends 3 doubled backward to close the ends of the tube. In this form of torpedo, as heretofore used, a spring trap 4 is held to the torpedo case by a clip 5, which has its ends 6 turned over the doubled ends 8 of the explosive case. In this construction the strap 4 has heretofore passed between the case 1 and the clip 5 and owing to the yielding of the paper case 1, the strap 4 has not been held rigidly and is, therefore, movable endwise between the case and the clip 5.

My present improvement pertains to placing a plate between the strap and the case 1, and lock the ends of the plate to the clip 5, so that the strap 4 is clamped between the two plates.

A further object of this construction is to enable the strap to be locked against endwise movement between the plate and the clip.

Referring now particularly to the construction just referred to and to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, in-

elusive, a plate 7 is located between the strap 4 and the case 1. In this form of the invention the ends 8 of the plate 7 extend in a line under the ends of the case 1, which are clamped by the flanges 6 of the clip 5, and is, therefore, clamped in position by the clip. I prefer to have the interlocking between the strap 4 and the clip 5, and as shown in Fig. 4, the strap 4, (whether lead or spring) is provided with a projection 9, adapted to enter an opening 10 made in the clip, and in Fig. 5 the strap 4 is provided with two projections 9, and the clip 5 with two openings 10 to receive these projections.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the plate 7 will hold the strap interlocked with the clip and the interlocking portions held in place by the intervening plate. This construction also prevents any wear or injury which might occur by reason of the movement of the strap against the paper case, which movement is sure to occur where a plate is not provided.

In Fig. 5 I show a modified form of the plate between the strap and the paper case and it consists of a plate 11, having its ends 12, constructed to pass through openings 13 for attaching the plate to the clip and thus locking the plate and clip together and holding the projections of the strap interlocked with the clip, and also separating the strap from the paper case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a paper explosive containing case, a strap supporting clip located outside of and attached to the case, a rail-engaging strap adjacent the said clip, the said strap and clip having respectively an interlocking projection, and slot and a plate situated adjacent to the bottom of the said case and the strap, whereby the said strap is prevented from disengagement with the slot in the clip for the purpose described. I

2. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a paper explosive containing case, a strap attaching clip attached to the case, a plate located between the case and the clip, a railengaging strap passing between the plate and the clip, the plate and clip adapted to prevent the endwise movement of the strap for the purpose described.

the said plate and clip together adapted to prevent the strap from movement.

4. The combination with a railway signal torpedo, comprising a paper explosive containing case, of a plate situated at the bottom of the said case and entirely covering said bottom, an attaching clip having its ends bent upwardly forming clamping flanges; a rail engaging strap betweenthe plate and the clip, the said flanges ofa width vsufiicient to admit the thicknesses of the signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER. s

Witnesses:

R. W. JUNKER, G. M. LEONARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

